Library to screen ‘12 Years a Slave,’ host discussion

By The Free Press

Published: Thursday, March 27, 2014 at 07:28 PM.

The Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library will hold a public screening of the award-winning film, 12 Years A Slave, on at 2 p.m. Saturday at the public library. The movie screening is free, and all are invited. Immediately after the film screening will be a panel discussion.

Although 12 Years A Slave’s setting and theme is from a dark era in American history, the film has sparked increased attention to race relations. The topic of the discuss will be on the historic significance of the film; however, the movie lends itself to the current state of Kinston’s race relations and the future of Kinston.

Leading the diverse bevy of distinguished guest panelists is Julian Pridgen. Pridgen is the pastor of St. Augustus AME Zion Church of Kinston. From Whiteville, Pridgen has been in a Kinston resident for a number of years after earning several college degrees, including sociology and divinity. He is also heavily involved in the community, including ICOR and Vice-President of Common Ground of Eastern NC.

Sharon Bryant serves as African American Outreach Coordinator for Tryon Palace, where she features monthly lecture series featuring speakers/lecturers from across the United States. Bryant also manages and produces Jonkonnu, the nineteenth century African American Christmas celebration, reenacted each December as part of Tryon Palace’s holiday festivities, which has performed at three gubernatorial inauguration ceremonies. Her current project includes a collection of oral interviews of retired school teachers who taught in eastern North Carolina before their schools were desegregated.

The Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library will hold a public screening of the award-winning film, 12 Years A Slave, on at 2 p.m. Saturday at the public library. The movie screening is free, and all are invited. Immediately after the film screening will be a panel discussion.

Although 12 Years A Slave’s setting and theme is from a dark era in American history, the film has sparked increased attention to race relations. The topic of the discuss will be on the historic significance of the film; however, the movie lends itself to the current state of Kinston’s race relations and the future of Kinston.

Leading the diverse bevy of distinguished guest panelists is Julian Pridgen. Pridgen is the pastor of St. Augustus AME Zion Church of Kinston. From Whiteville, Pridgen has been in a Kinston resident for a number of years after earning several college degrees, including sociology and divinity. He is also heavily involved in the community, including ICOR and Vice-President of Common Ground of Eastern NC.

Sharon Bryant serves as African American Outreach Coordinator for Tryon Palace, where she features monthly lecture series featuring speakers/lecturers from across the United States. Bryant also manages and produces Jonkonnu, the nineteenth century African American Christmas celebration, reenacted each December as part of Tryon Palace’s holiday festivities, which has performed at three gubernatorial inauguration ceremonies. Her current project includes a collection of oral interviews of retired school teachers who taught in eastern North Carolina before their schools were desegregated.

Tiffinie Domer is a police officer. Domer moved to the area from Washington, D.C. to study microbiology and forensic pathology at East Carolina University.

With a long political career that includes being a member and chairman of the Lenoir County Board of Commissioners, George Graham is currently a Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, representing District 12. He was first elected to the chamber in 2012. Before retiring, Graham was Director of Adult Basic Education at Lenoir Community College.

As a member of the Kinston community, Luis Guzman served on the Kinston All-American City committee. Guzman acts as the president of a Kinston-based private, non-profit community outreach organization, La Voz ENC, which serves as “the voice” of Eastern North Carolina’s non-English-speaking community, comprised primarily of Spanish-speaking Hispanic residents.

Jack Harrell is an orthodontist for more than 30 years. Currently, Harrell serves as vice-President of diversity affairs for the Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce. He has been active in his church and community. Harrell was recognized by his peers for his community service, and was selected Citizen of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce and the local Boy Scout District.

A native of Kinston, Rita L. Joyner received a doctorate of philosophy in the Culture, Curriculum, and Change Program in the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. At UNC, Joyner completed a comprehensive inventory of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) initiatives within UNC General Administration across the state. Joyner’s dissertation research examined the relationships among the school, community, family, and church in eastern North Carolina during segregation. This qualitative study documents the educational experiences of students at Adkin High School.

Reginald Watson, originally from Morristown, New Jersey, now lives in Greenville, where is associate professor of English at East Carolina University. Watson also serves as a trustee for the North Carolina Humanities Council. As the author of several publications, Watson is currently working on a scholarly book on biracial characters in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Hosea Williams has many years of teaching experience, including university, high school, and middle school. He is currently a fourth grade educator at Children’s Village Academy. Most recently, Williams was a recipient of a Top 20 Under 40 Young Professionals Award by the Young Professionals of Lenoir County.

For more information on upcoming events sponsored by the Friends of the Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library, please library at 252-527-7066 or visit the website at www.neuselibrary.org.

Calendars of events are also available at each library branch in Lenoir, Greene, and Jones counties.